PC Steven Walters (pictured arriving at Stafford Crown Court), 48, has been jailed for four years for sexually assaulting two women while he was on duty

A policeman who sexually assaulted a passenger in his patrol car before groping another woman when she called 999 to report a child missing has been jailed.

PC Steven Walters, 48, left his victims suffering panic attacks, anxiety and depression after carrying out 'disgraceful' attacks while he was on duty.

Stafford Crown Court heard the West Midlands Police officer attacked one of the women in her own home, touching her under her skirt before asking to be taken to a bedroom.

He assaulted the other woman in his police car after offering her a lift late at night.

The court heard the officer - who has now been dismissed by the force- was convinced his victims would not report him and was 'confident' he could get away with his crimes by lying.

Walters has now been jailed for four years after admitting two counts of sexual assault.

Passing sentence, Judge Paul Glenn told Walters: 'The public are entitled to have faith in police officers and to trust them in the discharge of their powers and responsibilities, which are considerable.

'You exploited that trust and you have brought disgrace on yourself and indeed the force you served.'

The court was told how the first victim, who was in her 20s, had been walking home late at night when Walters's colleague asked her 'what she was doing at that time of night in that dress'.

They then offered her a lift home and Walters placed his hand on her thigh.

The court heard the woman, who cannot be named, was left scared and feeling 'creeped out' by the incident in Sutton Coldfield.

The second incident took place when Walters visited a woman's house after she called 999 to report a child missing.

The court was told he tried to kiss her face and neck and made advances towards her while her children were in the property.

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Judge Glenn, who opted not make an order against Walters for £18,500 in prosecution costs, said the officer believed he could easily explain away the offences if he was reported to his own force.

Referring to a probation report prepared on Walters, the judge added: 'Nowhere within that report do I see any remorse.

'The inference I draw is the same as the probation officer - you did not expect the victims to report this because of the fact that you were a police officer.

'You were confident you could deal with any allegations by lying.'

The officer (pictured) was convinced his victims would not report him and was 'confident' he could get away with his crimes by lying

Walters, whose address cannot be published because of a court order sought by West Midlands Police, was arrested in May last year.

He initially denied any wrongdoing, but pleaded guilty last month after his DNA was found on garments worn by his second victim.

In a statement issued after Walters was jailed, West Midlands Chief Constable Dave Thompson confirmed that the response officer had been dismissed from the force without notice for gross misconduct.

He added that the case was one of the 'worst violations of policing integrity' he had ever seen.

He said: 'The public expects simple things from the police: that they can trust us, that we offer friendship and service to people in need, and that vulnerable people are safe in our care.

'PC Walters has engaged in criminal activity that has shocked me. In 26 years' police service, this is one of the worst violations of policing integrity I have ever seen.'

The Independent Police Complaints Commission, which investigated the offences, praised the courage of the victims who reported the assaults.

IPCC Commissioner Derrick Campbell said: 'We carried out a thorough investigation after this matter was referred to us, and that found that Walters had completely abused his position of trust by targeting and taking advantage of vulnerable women for his own sexual gratification.

'Walters has now paid a heavy price for his actions, and I hope this case demonstrates that those who engage in such inappropriate and criminal behaviour will be held to account.

'I would like to again praise the courage and bravery of the women who came forward to give evidence against him, and hope that they can now move on in the knowledge that justice has been done.'